Councillors chose to reject the application because they had concerns over the extension of hours in an area where there is high deprivation and lots of vulnerable people
A gambling centre which wanted to stay open for almost 24 hours every day of the week has had a licensing application rejected – with one councillor branding it ‘predatory’. Merkur Slots, located at 40 Deptford High Street, had submitted a variation application to Lewisham Council so it could open from 9am to 6am for seven days a week.
Following a meeting of Lewisham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee last Wednesday (June 10), councillors chose to reject the application because they had concerns over the extension of hours in an area where there is high deprivation and lots of vulnerable people.
In a decision published on the council’s website on June 17, The Sub-Committee concluded that the extended hours in this particular location would not protect vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
The Sub-Committee concluded that no conditions could address their concerns, and ultimately decided to reject the application.
During the public consultation, the application received seven objections, including one from the Deptford Society, two former councillors and four members of the public.
Rosie Parry, a former councillor for Deptford ward, said: “Turning the shop into a near-24-hour gambling venue will increase opportunities for problematic gambling behaviour and associated disorder.
“This predatory expansion of operating hours will further normalise and make even more visible harmful gambling within our community – a risk that has been clearly identified.”
An unnamed resident expressed concern over the “over-concentration” of gambling shops on Deptford High Street.
They said: “Although this is not a new premises, the clustering of these businesses harms the local economy and reduces the diversity in the area. Extending the hours exacerbates this effect.”
During last week’s meeting, Sarah Le Fevre, a barrister for Merkur Slots, described it as an “extremely experienced and reputable operator”.
Ms Le Fevre said Merkur Slots has over 230 premises across the country, and around 80 per cent operate for 24 hours a day “without issue”.
She told the committee: “You know that there are a range of mandatory consultees for the Gambling Act which includes the police, the Gambling Commission and Environmental Health – it’s an essential part of this process because they are your sources of expertise in matters relating to the licensing objectives.
“Their voices are always important to the licensing process, but their silence is similarly important. It reflects an absence of concern.”
However, Meredith Eddy from the Deptford Society argued a gambling venue operating for nearly 24 hours a day would be “disruptive” on the high street and would contribute to crime and disorder and public nuisance.
Ms Eddy said: “There is an over-concentration of betting shops on the area. All-night betting will harm local business and the community, and the inevitable detritus, litter, and everything else that comes from a busy high street all night is just incompatible with this particular high street.
“It’s also incompatible with council policy, which we mentioned in our notes and our letters.”
She added: “It’s in direct conflict with the Lewisham Statement of Principles for Gambling, which outlines policies protecting vulnerable persons, of whom there are many in the high street.
“This also conflicts with Lewisham’s goals for health and safety environment and encourages gambling-related harms among the residents.”
When it came to closing statements, Ms Le Fevre described Merkur Slots as a “really experienced, committed and responsible operator” and said there hadn’t been any issues since operating on Deptford High Street.
She said customers were very well looked after, and staff were able to identify any vulnerability.
Ms Eddy said although there was no objection from the police, there was no guarantee there would not be any issues should the hours be extended.
Ultimately, the application was rejected by the Sub-Committee. Merkur Slots has a right to appeal against the decision, but any appeal should be made to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of first being notified of the Sub-Committee’s decision.
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